Zombies and video games have gone hand in hand for decades.
It makes sense, as running around like a headless chicken trying to escape an undead horde is fun and scary, no matter what game it’s in.
Some titles take the idea one step further, making the threat of overwhelming zombie hordes part of their identity.
WhileCall of Duty: World at Warwasn’t the first zombie horde shooter, you could argue that it made the subgenre mainstream. Its influence is evident, even with multiple games on this list.
I’ve limited my choices to just a single game per franchise to make things interesting. Several zombie game series have multiple fantastic titles, but I don’t want to take up at least three spots with variousBlack Opsgames.
I also find the genre is far more enjoyable with friends, so most games on the list have a multiplayer element, although it’s not essential.
The genre owes itself nicely to first-person shooters, but they aren’t a requirement.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to survive an outbreak, here’s a selection of incredible games where you can test your skills, trigger discipline, and ammo management.
10Yet Another Zombie Survivors
Vampire Survivors Meets Zombies
Key Information
Awesome Games Studio
Bullet Heaven
Release Date
Yet Another Zombie Survivorsmay have the most ridiculous name here, but it’s addictive and a superb addition to the zombie genre.
As you may have guessed by the name,Yet Another Zombie Survivorsis a ‘bullet heaven’ game in the same vein asVampire Survivors.
Zombies relentlessly attack from every direction and appear in greater numbers the longer you play.
You play as a group of survivors, a squad you hand-pick during each run. Overcoming the horde is an insurmountable task when you start, but you’ll quickly be caught in anaddictive progression loopand will net your first win with patience.
97 Days To Die
Fear For Your Life
7 Days to Die
Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best in gaming, and7 Days to Dieis a perfect example.
As the name implies, your imminent death is coming in seven days in the form of a terrifying horde of zombies and even undead wildlife.
You have a week to scavenge supplies and fashion a settlement to survive the onslaught.
7 Days to Dieoffers players an incredible mix of genres, from survival crafting totower defense.
Base building is fleshed out, there are skill trees, and exploration is rewarding as you can salvage almost everything that’s not nailed down.
Despite my glowing praise,7 Days to Dieis janky at times.If you don’t mind hopping over a few technical hurdles, it’s easily one of the best zombie games on the market.
8Killing Floor 2
Killing Floor 2
Killing Floor 2is mechanically similar toCall of DutyZombies but does more than enough to carve its own path.
Among those unique traits is a decent class system, with ten roles that feel completely different from one another.
I’ll always have a soft spot for the Gunslinger, a pistol specialist who thrives on headshots, but there’s something for everyone.
Zombies are lovingly referred to as ZEDs or ‘Specimens,’ and while there are plenty of ‘basic’ enemies to mow down, many have special abilities to keep you on your toes.
There’s also a trader you can interact with between rounds.
Killing Floor 2is a deceptively deep title, but the icing on the cake has to be the soundtrack.If you want to mow down hordes of the undead to heavy metal, you’re in the right place.
7Call of Duty Black Ops 6
A Return To Form
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Love it or hate it,Call of Duty World at Warwas responsible forpopularizing wave-based zombie gamesas we know them today. Since then, CoD players have looked to Treyarch for their undead fix, with mostly positive results.
Black Ops 6offers players one of the best CoD zombies experiences we’ve had in years.
Maps are designed with both beginners and veterans in mind, and spicy new mechanics add to the gameplay rather than deviate from it.
If we’re looking at horde mechanics specifically, they are on the basic side. Zombies swarm your position, and more dangerous hordes show up the longer you play.
There are a few zombie variants, but it’s a tried and true formula where players can’t seem to get enough. Multiplayer andWarzonemay be in a state, but Zombies is here to stay.
6Sker Ritual
The Best Zombie Shooter You Never Played
Wales Interactive
First-Person Shooter
April 2024
Sker Ritualwas released in 2024, offering traditional ‘CoD Zombies’ style gameplay whileMW3was experimenting with an open-world format.
Sker Ritualwears its influence on its sleeve but provides a surprisingly fleshed-out Zombies experience with nods to the olderBlack Opsgames.
Zombies assault players in a wave-based format on a great selection of varied maps.
There are easter eggs galore, but my favorite part ofSker Ritualis the map-specific stories.
Each tale takes you on a journey around the map, completing objectives until you trigger a showdown with the stage boss. It’s ultimately optional but elevatesSker Ritualwell beyond your average zombie game.
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Each map also contains a ‘hidden’ story for hardcore easter egg hunters.
The sad part is how few people even seem to know it exists, as it’s fantastic alone or with friends.
5World War Z
You’ve Never Seen Hordes This Big
World War Z: Aftermath
World War Zis a satisfying horde shooter with an addictive gameplay loop where you’re consistently earning new skills.
WWZgameplay offers a solid mix of third-person action and tower defense.
There’s even a story mode, which is surprisingly feature-rich and takes you everywhere, from shopping malls to claustrophobic laboratories.
World War Z’s most impressive feat is how many zombies it can cram onto the screen simultaneously.
I’ve never seen hordes engulf the map quite like it, and it’s a spectacle worthy of praise. There’s a solid class system for character abilities and skill trees that open up as you progress.
A Capcom Classic
Dead Rising
No Zombie game list would be complete without the legendaryDead Rising.
For the uninitiated,Dead Risingputs you in the shoes of hot-shot journalist Frank West.
You’re trapped in a shopping mall full of zombies and psychos, and while the world is a playground, the game is heavily story-driven.
There aretime-management mechanics, and you must fit a ton into every day if you want a good ending.
Zombie horde mechanics are pretty simple, but the undead get progressively more dangerous as time passes.Dead Risingzombies are far more dangerous at night, too, and you must plan ahead to ensure you’re not caught out.
3Days Gone
Zombie Genocide Baked Into The Story
Most games on this list offer players wave-based or ‘arcadey’ affairs, and while they are all excellent in their own right, some players crave a good story.
If that sounds like you, you’ll enjoyDays Gone. This is an ambitious story-driven open-world adventure where the world is overrun by zombies.
Days Gonemakes the list for its superb and sometimes terrifying horde mechanics.Hordes are vast groups of swarmers who roam the map during the night. You can even stumble across them during the day, hiding in caves, so have fun with that!
Defeating a horde takes strategy and decent weapons, and there are over 30 scattered across the map.
You can fight them on your own terms, but hordes are intimidating inDays Gone, which is how they should be.
2Project Zomboid
Project Zomboid
Project Zomboidis an impressive open-world survival game with dozens of mechanics working flawlessly together.
One of the most standout features is how zombies function. The undead don’t just magically shuffle to your position.
InProject Zomboid, zombies hunt using sight and hearing. Sure, taking down that lone straggler with your gun might seem like a good idea, but you could be ringing the dinner bell if you do!
Naturally, if a zombie spots you, they’ll come running, and the pack size usually depends on the environment. You’ll have an easier time away from the city, where the real hordes roam the streets.
I could talk aboutProject Zomboidfor hours and barely scratch the surface. Don’t let the drab graphics fool you; there’s far more to this game than meets the eye.
A Flesh-Eating Masterpiece
Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2is one of the finest zombie games ever made and an absolute must-play if you can drag a few friends in with you.
Your goal inL4D2is simply to reach the extraction point. The problem is that there’s usually an army of undead between you and safety.
Zombies come in many shapes and sizes, from brutish Chargers to the horrifying Witch.
The weakest among the roster is the ‘Common Infected,’ shambling undead who pose little threat. However, if you recklessly make noise or a Boomer sets them off, those enemies have real strength in numbers and will relentlessly attack.
The horde lethality only increases on higher difficulties, but there’s always counterplay, which makesL4D2’s gameplay refreshingly strategic.
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